Telangana gets over Rs 7,000-crore investment commitment: Food Conclave 2023

HYDERABAD: The Food Conclave highlighted the need for increased investment in “Production Agriculture”, expanding supply food chain, and making policies that build both production and consumption.

The total value of investment received is Rs.7,218 Crores creating 58,458 direct employment opportunity.

The conclave opened to a record-breaking number of attendees this year, with industry leaders and experts from around the world flocking to the event to discuss the latest trends and innovations in agriculture.

The one-day conclave, which boasts a reputation as one of the most prestigious and influential gatherings in the food-agri community, featured an array of new partnerships and investments, further cementing its position as a key platform for shaping the future of the industry. With a range of exciting developments on the horizon, attendees are eagerly anticipating the insights and opportunities that this year's conference has to offer.

The inaugural “The Food Conclave” edition was inaugurated by the Shri. KT Rama Rao brought together the top 100 agri-food industry leaders who will engage in intense panel discussion and network meetings to discuss key challenges and opportunities for the growth of the Indian agri-food sector. Talasani Srinivas Yadav, Minister of Animal Husbandry Dairy Development, Fisheries and S Niranjan Reddy, Agriculture and Civil Supplies, Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, Govt of Telangana also addressed the gathering.

Minister KTR said:

“The state identifies food processing as a core thrust area, Over the past 5 years, the state has added more than Rs 7,000 crore worth fixed capital base to food processing capacities in the state,in order to further boost the food processing sector in the state we are building Special Food Processing Zones that will collectively bring more than 10,000 acres under fresh food processing capacities. Furthermore, at the end of the Conclave the State received more than Rs. 7000 Cr investment commitment across the sectors, in Aqua, Dairy, Agro Processing, and allied sectors creating total direct employment of 58,458 by way of these investment opportunities.”

The Minister also launched the Innovation in Food Processing, Grand Challenge inviting startups and innovators across the Telangana and India for building solutions to enhance local food processing. The Food Conclave would be an annual affair hereupon.

He further added "We are also working on the supply chain linkages where we will connect the industry to the farmers of the state by effectively deploying the agriculture extension system that we have built in the state. The Self-Help Groups in Telangana also present a massive untapped potential in mobilizing farm produce in partnership with industry. Therefore, we are creating farmer producer organizations (FPOs) to provide plug and play supply chains for the food processing Industry.

“We are also committed to empower small entrepreneurs in the state and as of now nurturing more than 2500 micro and small enterprises held by the state departments and supported by several welfare schemes such as the Dalit Bandhu Scheme. With industry friendly policies, robust and fast-growing raw material base, world class industrial infrastructure and active facilitation extended by our government to not just set up but to operate the industry in the most competitive manner, Telangana is the best place to be at this point in time."

The minister added.